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Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.News The Blob.While moviegoing trended downward elsewhere (though box office receipts increased), France, Great Britain, Brazil, and Turkey saw an uptick in cinema attendance last year. French theater owners and analysts point to several nationally specific contributing factors: government art subsidies, distribution laws that mandate long theatrical windows, the inability for urban apartments to accommodate big home-theater setups, and the public's strong cultural connection to the cinema.As more small-town movie theaters close because of low ticket and concession sales, local residents have begun forming nonprofit organizations to save them. In 2023, Nicki Wilson of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, successfully organized a fundraiser to save the Triplex Cinema, the town’s only moviehouse. By means of donations, grants, and volunteer labor,...

In the quiet neighborhood of their Santa Fe home, Oscar winner Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, met a fate so eerie it feels like a scene from a psychological horror film. Arakawa, just 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, with her lifeless body discovered in a bathroom surrounded by pills.

Gene Hackman in The Conversation | image: Paramount Pictures

Meanwhile, it is believed that the two-time Oscar winner allegedly lived for seven days without his wife—who was his primary caregiver—despite his mind being clouded by Alzheimer’s. Later on, succumbing to heart disease, Hackman’s body was found near the kitchen. The authorities have ruled out foul play, even though the grim details paint a tragic picture.

Gene Hackman and his wife passed away at their Santa Fe home

A grave tragedy struck Hollywood after veteran legend Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, a gifted classical pianist,...

Francis Ford Coppola is one of the biggest filmmakers of all time. That cannot denied. The Oscar-winning director has left us numerous works that will remain an important part of the history of cinema, including but not limited to The Godfather trilogy, The Conversation, Dracula, and so on.

But while Coppola was a hitmaker several decades ago, after Dracula, his career started to fade. He was not present for some time and his long-awaited return, Megalopolis, was a disaster and a flop that earned him a Razzie for worst director. Still, as he has announced, he is not retiring and we have some news in that aspect.

Related: 45th Razzies Nominations Are In, 2024 Was a Bad Year For Superhero Movies

In a recent podcast, Coppola confirmed that his next movie – earlier, he had said that he would do two more movies – was in pre-production, and based on the information he provided,...

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman died from heart disease and complications related to Alzheimer’s, while his wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to a rare respiratory illness, according to findings released by New Mexico authorities. The couple, who had lived privately in Santa Fe for decades, died about a week apart in their home before being discovered on February 26.

A forensic report from the New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner’s office detailed that Hackman, 95, passed away due to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor. His pacemaker reportedly stopped functioning on or around February 17, indicating the estimated time of his death. Autopsy results showed no signs of trauma, but evidence suggested Hackman had not eaten for several days prior to his death.

Arakawa, 65, died first, likely on February 11, after contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (Hps), a severe respiratory illness linked to exposure to rodent droppings. According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza,...

The news that Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had been found dead sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Hackman had an extraordinary career, winning Academy Awards for his roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven.

Of course, many of you will know him best for playing the villainous Lex Luthor in three Superman movies released between 1978 and 1987. He retired from acting in 2004 after Welcome to Mooseport and wrote several novels, including Justice for None.

The unusual circumstances surrounding Hackman and Arakawa's deaths have raised big questions and we finally have some answers. Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator held a press conference yesterday. She confirmed that Hackman died of cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor.

As for Arakawa, she's believed to have died around a week before her husband from hantavirus, a potentially fatal virus transmitted by mice.

The causes of death of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been revealed, the chief medical examiner announced Friday, nine days after the couple was found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home.

Both Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths were found to be the result of “natural causes,” albeit six days apart: Dr. Heather Jarrell said that Arakawa likely died on Feb. 11 from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, while Hackman died Feb. 18 (based on pacemaker information) from heart disease, with “advanced Alzheimer’s disease” also a contributing factor.

Gene Hackman likely died about a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died due to hantavirus, a medical examiner announced Friday.

Hackman died of cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing factor, said Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.

Arakawa likely died about a week earlier, on Feb. 11, of hantavirus, a potentially fatal virus transmitted by mice. Both deaths fall under natural causes, which can include heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory failure, infections and age-related complications.

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found dead on Feb. 26. Authorities said at the time they did not suspect foul play.

At a news conference on Friday, Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said that surveillance cameras showed that Arakawa did errands on Feb. 11, visiting Sprouts market and a Cvs pharmacy. She also corresponded with a massage therapist by email that day.

Her car entered...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Chaos: The Manson Murders (Errol Morris)

Over half a century later, what new information can be gleaned from the nights of August 9 and 10, 1969? Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring’s riveting (if convoluted) book Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties––released in June 2019, between the Cannes premiere and theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino’s cathartic rewrite of that history––argues that while all the evidence of the murders has been gleaned, there’s a complex and knotty web of conspiracies for the motivations, some more plausible than others. To pare down the 528-page book to its most overarching theory, it postulates Manson may have been allowed (and perhaps even directed) by the CIA to concoct a reign...

Francis Ford Coppola has run out of vineyards to sell. The director of The Godfather, The Conversation, and more iconic films is hard at work on his next movie, but he recently told Rick Rubin on his Tetragammaton podcast that it’s going to have a smaller budget than his previous film, Megalopolis, because “I don’t have any money.”

Coppola described his next project, an adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel Glimpses of the Moon, as a “’30s-style strange musical” when interviewed by the Washington Post last December. Now, he’s facing the budget limitations from Megalopolis’s failure to recoup the $120 million he invested in it. Said Coppola on the podcast:

“It’s as though Noel Coward adapted an Edith Wharton novel in England which is why I’m here in the UK. I’m actually in pre production. I don’t have any money because I invested all the money,...

Hollywood is where imaginative stories are put on the silver screen and people with minimal backgrounds can make historical careers of glamour. But aside from inviting in people of various backgrounds and creative mindsets, Hollywood has encouraged, mostly indirectly, daring filmmakers to go against its system and attempt to make successful pictures outside of the often creatively restraining industry. Legendary directors Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas formed in the early 1970s the best example of such rebellion with American Zoetrope, an independent film company which in the days prior to each of their legendary success, was their conjoined mission to challenge the Hollywood status quo in moviemaking, inviting a diverse array of storytelling and directors to form a new kind of cinema alternative. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to...

So many of the greats had come close.

Francis Ford Coppola had a good shot at doing it.

Alfonso Cuarón and Chloé Zhao got halfway to doing it.

Walt Disney needed a whole bunch of movies to do it.

Bong Joon Ho nearly did it.

But until Sunday, no filmmaker had done it — it: won four Academy Awards for the same movie.

That’s exactly what Sean Baker pulled off when he landed Oscars for producing, directing, writing and editing the original film Anora on Sunday.

How is it that this had never happened in the 96 previous Academy Awards ceremonies, with all the greats that had come before? Well, Walt Disney won four Oscars in 1954 — for four different films.

Cuarón and Zhao landed four nominations each in 2019 and 2021, respectively, for their films Roma and Nomadland…but won only two apiece.

Coppola took home three prizes in 1974 for The Godfather: Part II...

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Zoe Saldana is one of the stars of the most-nominated films at the 2025 Academy Awards: Emilia Perez. Her performance has been a standout for the film, and it’s earned her plenty of recognition from award shows.

In the film, Zoe plays the lawyer Rita Mora Castro. Her performance in the movie has already netted her wins at the 2025 BAFTAs and Golden Globes, and she’s nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars.

Of course, this is only the latest role in a string of major hits for Zoe. She’s also starred in the Star Trek and Avatar franchises. She’s also a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Actress Zoe Saldana and Marco Perego pose during the red carpet of the amfAR gala dinner at the house of collector and museum patron Eugenio López on February 5, 2019 in Mexico City,...

It's never easy to learn that yet another screen titan has left us. The rate at which we've been losing our legends is gutting, which is why it deeply saddened me when I found out about the great Gene Hackman passing away with his wife Betsy Arakawa in their New Mexico home.

When it comes to the actor's diverse body of work, there's almost too much to talk about. But that was how Hackman secured his legacy as one of the industry's most versatile performers for decades. Any contemporary actor alive would kill to have the resume Hackman had. He worked with greats like Arthur Penn ("Bonnie and Clyde"), Francis Ford Coppola ("The Conversation"), Richard Donner ("Superman: The Movie"), Sam Raimi ("The Quick and the Dead"), Tony Scott ("Crimson Tide"), and Wes Anderson ("The Royal Tenenbaums"), among countless others.

Hackman won his first Academy Award in 1972 for his turn as...

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday his department is still waiting for final autopsy and toxicology reports on the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, but has a fair idea of when the Oscar winner actually died.

An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr. Hackman pacemaker,” the Sheriff said at a short press conference today. “This revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025, I was advised that a more thorough investigation will be completed.”

Noting that getting final autopsy and toxicology reports “could take months,” Mendoza added that initial results seem to rule out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of the deaths of the 95-year-old Hackman, the 63-year-old Arakawa and one of their dogs. Amidst some conflicting information over the past 48 hours, the Sheriff said “there were no apparent signs of foul play” in the Hackmans’ deaths.

Married since 1991 and notoriously private, Hackman and...

Gene Hackman, the two-time ‘Oscar’-winning actor, whose career spanned five decades, has died:

Hackman was Oscar-nominated for his portrayal of ‘Buck Barrow’ in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1971)…

…followed by his first Academy Award, for his role as New York City police Detective…

…’Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle’ in 1971's "The French Connection” (reprising the character in 1975’s “French Connection II”)…

…and his second Oscar twenty years later playing corrupt ‘Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett’ in director Clint Eastwood's 1992 Western, "Unforgiven."

Hackman displayed his comedic chops as ‘Harold’, a well-meaning, blind hermit in “Young Frankenstein” (1974)….

“…followed by his most intense dramatic performance in the covert thriller “The Conversation” (1974), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Click the images to enlarge…...

This week’s “Screen Talk” podcast wraps up last weekend’s Film Independent Spirit and Screen Actors Guild awards, and co-hosts Ryan Lattanzio and Anne Thompson share their final Oscar nominations predictions ahead of the ceremony on Sunday.

We also look at two deaths that took place in the span of 24 hours this week, Michelle Trachtenberg and Gene Hackman. Meanwhile, Netflix released viewership data for the second half of 2024, and it’s telling how small audience interest was in a number of the streamer’s 2025 Oscar contenders.

At the Spirits, “Anora” was the big winner with three top awards, and director Sean Baker gave a powerful speech about how indies need to sustain careers going forward.

At the SAG Awards, the big surprise was Timothée Chalamet finally notching a win for his performance as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” Will that repeat at the Oscars? No, and we explain why.

Murch was just a rookie when he was hired to edit Francis Ford Coppola’s follow-up to The Godfather, but studying Hackman taught him all he needed to know

I never formally met Gene Hackman. I glimpsed him once, in November 1972, when he bounded upstairs to the offices of American Zoetrope in San Francisco, but I didn’t recognise him until he told the receptionist that he was here to see Mona Skager.

Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Conversation was about to start shooting in two weeks, and Mona was Francis’s associate producer. I was to be the film’s editor. That brief and solitary glimpse of Gene in real life was counterbalanced by 16 months of daily screen contact with Harry Caul, the character brought to life by Hackman.

Several years ago, Ethan Hawke said something interesting in an interview with Marc Maron. He admitted to having a lot of anxiety when he was cast in Training Day because he said that whenever he watched movies with Denzel Washington, he felt like his co-stars were blown out of the water by him. One exception that Hawke mentioned is Gene Hackman, who said the two played brilliantly off of each other in Tony Scott’s Crimson Tide, partly due to the fact that they were playing adversaries. Indeed, such was the power of Gene Hackman, who tragically passed away this week. While his career is loaded with classics, including The French Connection, The Conversation, The Royal Tenenbaums and so many more, one of his biggest box office hits was Crimson Tide, a movie that’s long overdue for a deep dive here on JoBlo!

When asked why he wanted to do Crimson Tide,...

The late Gene Hackman starred in numerous movies that are now considered classics. From "The Conversation" to "The French Connection," "Unforgiven," and everything in-between them, his filmography is littered with projects that most actors would love to have on their resume, even though Hackman himself believed that he wasn't the right man for some of his iconic roles. That said, even the most successful actors have regrets, and for Hackman, one of his main ones was turning down the chance to star in 1980's "Ordinary People."

Directed by Robert Redford and written by Alvin Sargent (adapting the 1976 novel of the same name by Judith Guest), "Ordinary People" tells the story of a wealthy family that's overcome with grief following the death of one of their sons. Donald Sutherland's character, Calvin Jarrett, is the father tasked with trying to keep everyone together as his household begins to disintegrate in the aftermath of the tragedy,...

The news of the passing of Gene Hackman and his wife and his dog has left peers and fans alike stunned. Yesterday, after the news broke, the iconic French Connection star was paid tribute to by a number of his former collaborators and a great number of his fans. Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola worked with Hackman on the spy classic The Conversation and took to social media to say, “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”

Deadline now reports that comedy maestro Mel Brooks has also paid tribute to Hackman by remembering working with him on his film Young Frankenstein. Brooks recalled on his social media, “I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder.

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman was found dead in his Los Angeles home recently, with his wife and dog. While the tragic news has obviously shaken the industry, it has also led to many speculations. Although the authorities ruled out foul play, people were still suspicious.

Gene Hackman in The Conversation | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Especially because the veteran actor and his family were found dead on the very day Jeffrey Epstein’s list, i.e., documents about his clientele, was scheduled to be released.

As such, many netizens wondered if the late actor had any connections to the child s*x trafficker. Although people were convinced that the release of the documents would answer these questions, it seems to have only confused them more.

Netizens speculated if Gene Hackman and his wife’s death were connected to the release of Epstein’s list

As stated above, legendary actor Gene Hackman, his wife,...

Dustin Hoffman paid tribute to Gene Hackman, his former roommate and co-star, following the actor’s death at 95. In a statement shared with Deadline, Hoffman recalled first meeting Hackman while both were attending acting school in California.

“I met Gene in acting school, at the Pasadena Playhouse, when he was 27 and I was 19,” Hoffman said. “We used to play congas together on the roof, trying to be like our hero Marlon Brando. And Gene was like Brando, in that he brought something unprecedented to our craft, something people didn’t...

Acting legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their Santa Fe home in New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. The Oscar-winning actor was 95 and his wife was 63 at the time of their deaths. Their cause of death has yet to be determined, although the county sheriff’s office initially rejected any foul play suspicions.

Gene Hackman as Harry R. Caul in The Conversation | Credits: Paramount Pictures

However, the detectives in the case have filed an application for a search warrant of Hackman’s home and premises. They claimed that the circumstances surrounding the death were “suspicious enough” to warrant a thorough investigation.

What makes Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s death “suspicious”? Gene Hackman in his Oscar-winning role in Unforgiven | Credits: Warner Bros.

Detective Roy Arndt with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office asked for a search warrant from a judge, stating that actor Gene...

There’s an indelible scene in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 masterwork, The Conversation, in which Gene Hackman’s reclusive surveillance expert, Harry Caul, visits his mistress Amy, played with aching vulnerability by Teri Garr. It’s the night of his birthday, and he arrives so late she’s almost given up on him.

She asks how old he is and then proceeds in a teasing, half-jokey way to pepper him with questions — where he lives, if he lives alone, what he does — that reveal how little she knows of this man she clearly loves and has been seeing for an unspecified length of time.

We feel Amy’s hunger to know him, just as we feel Harry’s wincing discomfort and paranoia as she gently pries information from him. “I don’t feel like answering any more questions,” he mutters, moving toward the apartment door and opening his wallet to...

One of the first major film stars to break out in the 1970s, Gene Hackman was the epitome of New Hollywood. An actor with livewire intensity, he had a grit and brusqueness that few others could ever match, and he was perfectly suited for the types of anti-heroic, morally gray characters that would define the Hollywood revolution of the decade. In his Oscar-winning role as a violent, thuggish cop on a mission in “The French Connection,” he showcases unnerving levels of adrenaline and thirst for justice: The way he grits his teeth during the movie’s iconic car chase scene elevates it from very good to extraordinary. In the hands of another actor, the role could be one-note, but Hackman made it iconic.

What Hackman a great actor wasn’t just his talent for playing morally compromised, loathsome men — although his most famous roles over the course of his career fall into that broad archetype.

On the Mount Rushmore of great American actors — specifically those who emerged in the late 1960s and brought a transformative, bone-deep intensity to their craft over the industry-redefining decade that followed — four faces loom large: Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman.

The eldest of that contingent, Hackman is less familiar to younger audiences than the others, having withdrawn from acting more than 20 years ago, to write and paint in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Over a four-decade screen career, the stage-trained star gravitated to complex movies for grown-up audiences (the only significant exception being his iconic turn as Lex Luthor in the “Superman” franchise), and might have been entirely forgotten by Gen Z if not for his performance as the gruff patriarch in Wes Anderson’s cult favorite “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

Hackman’s unexpected and unusual death (he was discovered alongside his wife and dog) offers a chance...

Gene Hackman, the legendary everyman actor who won two Oscars before stepping away from Hollywood in 2004, and Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, N.M., home on Wednesday. Hackman was 95. Arakawa, whom he married in 1991, was 64.

While authorities did not suspect foul play, the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa have been ruled suspicious. A detective's affidavit stated that "an open prescription bottle scattered pills" were found on a bathroom counter near Arakawa's body. One of the couple’s dog, a German shepherd, was found dead in the bathroom closet, about 15 feet from Arakawa. Two other family dogs were found alive.

A maintenance worker discovered the bodies on Wednesday. Arakawa was found in the bathroom near a space heater. Her body showed signs of decomposition, per the detective report. Hackman's body, in a similar state, was found in the mud room appearing as if he had "suddenly fallen.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Gene Hackman’s film career is shorthand for greatness, from roles like Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation to Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. As Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield put it, “no film was ever worse off for having Hackman in it.” The actor, born in 1930, had his breakout role in Bonnie and Clyde before appearing in The French Connection, which won him the Best Actor award at the Oscars.

Gene Hackman's tragic death at 95 on February 26, 2025 has shocked the world, while also reminding many movie aficionados that he was one of the best actors in his generation. In fact, an argument could be made that Hackman was the best actor ever, and his two Academy Award wins for "The French Connection" (1971) and "Unforgiven" (1991) -- among with his three other nominations for "Bonnie and Clyde" (1968), "I Never Sang For My Father" (1970), and "Mississippi Burning" (1988) -- certainly back up that kind of talk. But what did Hackman himself think of his work, and what did he consider his favorite role? The answer might not be what you think.

In a 1988 interview with Film Comment, Hackman was asked what his favorite movie from his own work is. Based on the strength of his own performance, the actor's choice was curious: Jerry Schatzberg's "Scarecrow" (1973), a road movie where Hackman and Al Pacino play Max and Lion,...

The news of Gene Hackman’s passing was an undeniable tragedy.

This was, after all, a man who had contributed so much to the world of cinema through performances that seemed both challenging and extremely comfortable. While he had not performed in a movie since 2004’s “Welcome to Mooseport,” an inglorious final role if there ever was one, there was always the idea that he could come back – would come back – if the character was too good to pass up.

These are 11 performances that immediately sprang to mind when we heard of Hackman’s death. We could make it twice as long – maybe three times as long – without breaking a sweat. The list of sterling performances from the master goes on and on. This is just a sample. Use it as a guide or maybe a starting point. The worlds of Hackman are infinite.

Warner Bros. “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967)

Gene...

Gene Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, and his granddaughter Annie said they are “devastated” after the two-time Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday. He was 95 and she was 64.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” the family told TheWrap in a Thursday statement. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

As TheWrap previously reported, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office insists Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths are not suspicious despite multiple media reports regarding search warrants suggesting the contrary. The department states no foul play is suspected in the case, though the investigation in ongoing.

Gene Hackman was a legend where I grew up. Granted, he was a legend practically everywhere, but in Pasadena, California, to theater kids and movie geeks, he was hope incarnate.

Pasadena is the home to the historic (and aptly titled) Pasadena Playhouse, a venerable theatrical institution and a college with a list of alumni that boggles the mind: David Niven, Tyrone Power, Martha Graham, Lee J. Cobb, Leonard Nimoy, Angela Bassett, Ernest Borgnine, Jean Arthur, William Holden, Ariana Grande, Dustin Hoffman — and of course Gene Hackman. But Hackman had something none of those other famous actors ever had: the lowest scores of any actor, by that point, in the Pasadena Playhouse’s history.

In fact, Hackman and his friend and contemporary Hoffman were voted “Least Likely to Succeed,” which is a pretty crappy category, if we’re being honest. It’s like dropping the Razzie for Worst Picture in the middle of the Oscars telecast.

Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Nathan Lane, Viola Davis, Josh Brolin, and Superman actress Valerie Perrine are among the stars mourning Gene Hackman.

The 95-year-old legend and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead on Wednesday, alongside their dog, in their Santa Fe, N.M., home. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office initially said foul play is not suspected, and there's an "active and ongoing investigation" into their deaths. In a search warrant affidavit released Thursday, authorities said their deaths are "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," and that there were "no obvious signs of a gas leak."

Tributes poured in for the beloved actor after the news broke early Thursday. Hackman won two Oscars -- Best Actor for 1971's The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor for 1992's Unforgiven -- and had three other nominations for Bonnie & Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father...

In a heartfelt homage, Bollywood veteran Anil Kapoor has paid tribute to Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, lauding him as ‘a true legend whose legacy will live on.’ Kapoor’s admiration for Hackman underscores the profound impact the two-time Academy Award-winning actor has had on artists worldwide.

A Cross-Continental Influence

Gene Hackman’s illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has been a beacon of inspiration for actors across the globe. Known for his versatility and compelling performances in classics like The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Conversation, Hackman’s dedication to his craft has set a benchmark in cinematic excellence.

Anil Kapoor, whose own career in Indian cinema mirrors a similar dedication and versatility, expressed deep respect for Hackman’s body of work. Kapoor’s tribute highlights the universal language of cinema, where performances transcend borders and inspire artists irrespective of their origin.

Reflecting on Hackman’s Legacy

Hackman’s decision...

The news that actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe has shocked the industry and led to widespread tributes for one of the true greats of cinema.

Clint Eastwood, who directed and starred with Hackman in 1992’s Unforgiven, said in a statement to Deadline: “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”

Writer-director Mel Brooks reminisced about working with Hackman on his Academy Award-nominated 1974 comedy classic Young Frankenstein.

“I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie Young Frankenstein,” wrote Brooks on X. “He said, ‘Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.

Gene Hackman’s death has raised enough suspicion among the Santa Fe police that they have obtained a search warrant for the Oscar winner’s home after the nonagenarian, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs were found dead last night.

“At this time; the manner and cause of death pertaining to Eugene ‘Gene’ Allen Hackman and Betsy Arakawa passing is unknown,” said Santa Fe Sheriff’s department Det. Roy Arndt late Wednesday night in an affidavit submitted to a state judge just hours after the bodies were discovered in the couple’s longtime New Mexico home.

“Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another...

Royal O’Reilly Tenenbaum 1932-2001: Died Tragically Rescuing His Family From The Wreckage Of A Destroyed Sinking Battleship

– Royal Tenenbaum’s epitaph

Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) is not Gene Hackman’s final film. But it feels now, in the wake of the sad news of his death at the age of 95, that Tenenbaums — a witty, warm comic family drama about a flawed patriarch who re-enters his family’s life after years of absence and estrangement — is a beautifully appropriate swansong for the beloved actor. In its own sardonic, eccentric sort of way, it is a story of a man in his twilight years, reaching the end of his life and surveying what he has, what he misses, what he values. It is sweet, it is surprising, and in a career disproportionately stacked with brilliant performances, it possesses one of the best Gene Hackman performances ever recorded on celluloid.

Gene Hackman, who unexpectedly died this week at the age of 95, was famous for his roles in tense dramas like The Conversation, The French Connection and Unforgiven. But the two-time Oscar winner also had a flair for comedy, a talent that made him the funniest Lex Luthor in the best Superman movies to date.

Sure, others have tried. Jesse Eisenberg did a jittery, Zuckerbergian version in Justice League. Creepy Kevin Spacey took a turn in Superman Returns. Michael Rosenbaum and, somehow, Jon Cryer have played the villain in Superman’s TV adventures. Nicolaus Holt will get his shot this summer when James Gunn’s Superman hits the big screen.

But none of those actors found the intersection of comedy, menace and madness quite like Hackman. In 1978’s Superman: The Movie, his Luthor hatches an outrageous scheme right out of the campy 1960s Batman series — blow up the West Coast along the San Andreas fault,...

Legendary actor Gene Hackman has passed away at the age of 95. Tragically, according to authorities, Hackman’s 64-year-old wife Betsy Arakawa, and a dog, were also found deceased in the couple’s New Mexico home. While “no foul play is suspected” the cause of death has yet to be determined.

It’s hard to overstate Hackman’s impact on the world of film; he starred in all-time classics like The Conversation, Night Moves, Bonnie & Clyde, Superman and, of course, The French Connection. Plus, he had key supporting roles in more modern masterpieces such as Unforgiven and The Royal Tenenbaums (even if he clearly didn’t want to be in the latter).

Then, after decades of acclaimed performances in countless films, he gave up on the entire industry after making a single Ray Romano movie.

In the latter half of his career, it certainly wasn’t unusual to see Hackman...

Two-time Oscar winner, Gene Hackman has died at the age of 95. The iconic actor was found dead at their Santa Fe, N.M. home alongside his 63-year-old classical pianist wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog.

Whilst not deemed suspicious, their deaths are currently being investigated.

Former Marine turned actor Hackman, who won two Oscars for his roles in 1971’s ‘The French Connection’ and 1992’s ‘Unforgiven’ made his mark in Hollywood with his role as Clyde Barrow’s explosive older brother in the 1967 film ‘Bonnie and Clyde,’ which brought him his first Oscar nomination in supporting actor. He also found himself with Oscar nominations for this roles as FBI Special Agent Rupert Anderson in ‘Mississippi Burning,’ Gene Garrison in Gil Cates’ ‘I Never Sang for My Father,’

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Having appeared in over 80 films his career spanned from the...

Gene Hackman, the actor known for such roles as Lex Luthor and in The French Connection, has been found dead alongside his wife, Betsy Hackman, and one of their dogs at their home in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

The star, 95, was one of the industry’s most celebrated creatives with two Oscars under his belt. At the end of his life, Hackman was seldom seen out in public, and little was known about his health. He was last photographed with Betsy, 64, on March 28 as they held hands outside a restaurant in Santa Fe.

Hackman’s prolific career — including performances in Unforgiven (1992), Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and I Never Sang for My Father (1970) — ended in 2004 after he starred opposite Ray Romano in Welcome to Mooseport. He was 74 at the time.

He reflected on his quiet retirement while promoting a book in 2008, telling Reuters: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement,...

Gene Hackman was one of the most versatile and accomplished character actors on film. He was appreciated by critics and audiences alike for his clean, no-nonsense style of acting. In his film work, Hackman was famed for the every-man quality that audiences of all types could identify with, which he demonstrated in the more than 80 films in which he appeared.

Hackman's subtle work was showered with honors throughout his film career, which lasted over half a century. He won two Academy Awards (for 1971's "The French Connection" with William Friedkin and 1992's "Unforgiven" with Clint Eastwood) from five nominations. He was an honorary Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient at the Golden Globes and won three competitive Globes from eight nominations. He is also a Screen Actors Guild Award winner from his two nominations.

After appearing in 2004's "Welcome to Mooseport," Hackman stepped away from screen acting and began writing thriller novels.

Hollywood has lost one of its great screen legends.

Gene Hackman was found dead in his Santa Fe, N.M. home on Feb. 26, 2025, at the age of 95. Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, also died in the couple's house, as did their dog. Authorities have not yet released a cause of death but said foul play was not suspected.

Before his death, Hackman spent the last 21 years retired from acting. However, even after two decades away from the screen, he was remembered as one the most versatile and accomplished character actors on film -- appreciated by critics and audiences for his clean, no-nonsense acting style.  In his film work, Hackman was famed for the every-man quality of his work, with which audiences of all types could identify, which he demonstrated in the more than 80 films in which he appeared.

SEEOscar Best Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy Award History

Hackman's subtle work...

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their lifeless dog was also discovered by the authorities. Investigation is currently ongoing, but at the moment, they don’t believe that there’s foul play.

Gene Hackman in The Conversation / Credits: Paramount Pictures

Hackman was 95, and Arakawa was 63, both accomplished in their fields. The actor was known for his roles in Bonnie and Clyde, The Conversation, and Unforgiven. He had a career spanning over six decades and was a recipient of various prestigious accolades. His wife was a classical pianist.

Fans speculate Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa tragically died of carbon monoxide poisoning Gene Hackman / Credits: YouTube

The news about Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa left the fans in utter shock, especially with the actor’s legacy in Hollywood as a versatile star who had appeared in numerous films.

Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Antonio Banderas and Paul Feig were among those mourning two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who was found dead, alongside his wife and dog, at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday.

“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity,” Coppola, who directed Hackman in 1974’s The Conversation, wrote on Instagram. “I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”

Davis added, “Loved you in everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”

And Banderas said this was a “very sad day for the cinema’s family,” sharing his condolences for “friends, family and cinema lovers.”

Feig called the news “so awful,” adding, “Gene was...

Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman passed away at the 95, along with his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, who was 63.

They were both found deceased at their home in New Mexico along with their dog. No foul play is suspected at this time.

Hollywood is waking up to the news of their passing, and celebrity tributes are starting to come in for the famed star.

Keep reading to find out more…

Scroll down to see just some of what is being shared in Hollywood…

Viola Davis posted on Instagram, “Loved you in everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir. ❤️❤️❤️”

Josh Brolin wrote on Instagram, “I am crushed by the sudden deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (and their dog). Crushed. He was always one of my favorites.

Gene Hackman’s life and legacy are being remembered by fellow Hollywood icons.

The two-time Oscar winner Hackman was found dead at age 95. His 63-year-old wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were deceased as well inside their Santa Fe, New Mexico home. While reports claimed there was “no immediate indication of foul play,” a cause of death was not provided at print.

Hackman’s breakout role was in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde.” He later went on to star in 1971’s “The French Connection” and Clint Eastwood’s 1992 feature “Unforgiven,” winning Academy Awards for both performances. Hackman led Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 film “The Conversation,” with other iconic turns in “Hoosiers,” “Mississippi Burning,” “The Firm,” “The Birdcage,” “Postcards from the Edge,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and more. Read his full obituary here.

Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in “The Conversation,” remembered the late actor on Instagram.

“The loss of a great artist,...

If there’s a moment that sums up the genius of Gene Hackman, it’s in Night Moves, the 1975 Arthur Penn neo-noir where he’s a washed-up football player turned detective. He’s on a case where he hunts a movie star’s runaway teenage daughter in the Florida Keys. But at one point Hackman watches a football game on TV, while his wife asks him who’s winning. “Nobody,” he says without taking his eyes off the screen. “One side is just losing slower than the other.”

A great line,...

The film world has been rocked today with the passing of a Hollywood icon. The news of Gene Hackman’s death has a number of his peers and his fans paying tribute to him online. It was reported earlier that at the age of 95, Hackman, his retired pianist wife, 63-year-old Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were all found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. New Mexico police have said that the causes of death are under investigation, “but they do not believe foul play is a factor at this time.”

Variety reports that Francis Ford Coppola has paid tribute to his friend and movie peer as he posted on his Instagram, “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.

After Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday, his celebrity peers began honoring the two-time Oscar-winning actor’s life with touching tributes early Thursday morning.

Viola Davis wrote, “Loved you in everything! ‘The Conversation,’ ‘The French Connection,’ ‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ ‘Unforgiven’ — tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”

Francis Ford Coppola wrote, “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”

Edgar Wright wrote, “The greatest…”

Josh Brolin wrote, “I am crushed by the sudden deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (and their dog). Crushed. He was always one of my favorites. Not many who beat to...